In Hollywood circles, it’s polite to refer to actors like Emma Thompson and Pierce Brosnan as “industry veterans.”

But they’ll have none of that. The old jokes are laid on thick Thursday as they promote their new film at TIFF, The Love Punch, where they play a divorced couple who embark on a diamond heist to steal back the retirement savings they’ve been swindled out of.

“The bunions, aches and pains are somewhat real at times,” said Brosnan Thursday before the film’s premier.

Director Joel Hopkins was inspired by the Pink Panther films and Romancing the Stone, and relied heavily on the chemistry and good humour of his lead actors on set, especially when he got them to put on ridiculous wetsuits for a diving scene.

“The wetsuits were funny in a perverse sort of way,” said Brosnan. “But after the first five minutes of guffawing at each other, they became absolutely agonizing and tortuous.”

“All the bits of my face that are now coming off my face because of my age, got squished out front,” said Thompson, demonstrating with her hands to the press’ delight. “Most of your face is actually outside the wetsuit.”

Explaining her comfort making fun of herself in front of the media, Thompson had some advice for younger actors on the festival circuit.

“The relationship between actors and the press is important,” she said.

“You go up the Royal Mile with a drum and you bang that drum and you say, ‘I’m in this show. It’s really good, come and see it.’ That’s what you do. And if you don’t do that, no one will come and see your show because there are a million shows and there are a lot of people who are better than you. So you better get out on that street with that drum.”

“This is exactly what you’re doing. This is exactly the same thing. Explain why you love your show. Say why you think it’s good. Be behind it . . . This is a job.”

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